Wooden bridge in Dumuria turns into a death trap

A wooden bridge constructed over Bhadra river in Dumuria upazila of Khulna, which has been in dilapidated condition since long, has turned into a death trap for the people of the area. At any moment, it can collapse into the riverbed and both riverbank residents are in fear that the commute can be stopped at any time. Locals including vehicles have to cross the bridge with the risk of accident. The sufferers demanded immediate repair of the bridge. However, the Water Development Board (WDB) has assured that a brick-built bridge will be constructed on the river soon.

According to the Khulna BWDB office, the Bhadra river in Dumuria was dug two years ago to alleviate water logging in the area. There was a carpeted pitch road over the river at that time. But the BWDB dug the river cutting the carpeted road without finding an alternative way out. As a result, the residents of both the banks fell into extreme misery as communication was cut off.

Besides, the farmers of Shovna union under the upazila, which is famous for its vegetable and fish production, fell into great anxiety as these crops and fishes are supplied to Khulna, Jessore, Dhaka and other districts of the country every day through the road. But due to the disconnection, a wooden bridge about 200 feet long and 6 feet wide was built on the excavated river with bamboo, trees and cash donations from local people, social workers and people from different walks of life over which the public including vans, motorcycles, easy bikes have been traveling.

But vechiles like Nasimon, Karimon, Alamsadhu etc use the bridge during the night carrying heavy goods. Recently, the bridge has been dilapidated at different places and now it has become difficult for vehicles to cross even on foot. People have to cross the road with extreme risks which may lead to major accidents at any time. While talking to former Shovna union parishad chairman Sardar Abdul Gani, teacher Hafizur Rahman, businessman Abdul Hannan, farmer Ismail Hossain, Khodabox Sheikh and many others, they all said, "We are a bit deprived of development as this important road has been cut off.

Even then, there was a wooden bridge for the communication which is on the brink of collapsing into the Bhadra river. Contacted, local UP chairman Suranjit Kumar Vaidya said, "I have learnt the matter and will take necessary steps soon after inspecting the bridge. Mizanur Rahman, Khulna BWDB deputy divisional engineer, said, "I have sent a letter to the authority for the construction of a bridge over the excavated Bhadra river. If approved, the work will be started soon."

---Sheikh Mahtab Hossain in Dumuria, Khulna